Cubs give up 19 hits, get embarrassed by lowly White Sox
The White Sox amassed 19 hits, including two home runs, in a dominant offensive performance against the rival Cubs. (Photo Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports)

Cubs give up 19 hits, get embarrassed by lowly White Sox


by - Senior Writer -

CHICAGO — After getting shut out by the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday, the Chicago Cubs clearly did not use Thursday's off day as a chance to rebound. Getting embarrassed by a final score of 10-4 in the opener of their three-game set with the Chicago White Sox, the Cubs gave up 19 hits at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday. Former White Sox pitcher Jose Quintana allowed a costly three-run homer in the second inning and never recovered in the process of garnering a losing decision. Furthermore, Cubs relief pitching did not fare much better, either.

The Cubs held a brief lead in the contest, as Daniel Murphy led off the game with a home run for the first time in his career. The 411-foot round-tripper sailed just inside the foul pole down the right-field line. It proved to be the lone run allowed by White Sox starting pitcher Reynaldo Lopez in his seven-inning start. Lopez tallied the win for his five-hitter, improving to 7-9 overall. Quintana, on the other hand, was taken for five runs on nine hits, despite striking out eight, in five innings pitched and dropped to 13-11 overall with the loss.

A three-run blast with two outs in the bottom of the second by designated hitter Kevan Smith put the White Sox ahead 3-1. Ryan LaMarre added to that lead with an RBI double in the bottom of the fourth. Dillon Maples relieved Quintana in the sixth and proceeded to give up a two-run shot to White Sox sensation Daniel Palka. LaMarre tacked on an RBI single off Maples to make the score 7-1.

The White Sox continued to wail away at Cubs pitching out of the stretch, pushing three more runs across in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Davidson and Yoan Moncada each hit an RBI single, and LaMarre attained his third RBI of the day with a sacrifice fly. All three runs were charged to Cubs reliever Randy Rosario.

The Cubs added a few meaningless runs in the eighth as part of a two-out rally. First, Murphy, who went 3-5 at the dish, scored his second run of the contest on a wild pitch. Then, David Bote accrued a two-run single. The Cubs finished with nine hits and two walks but were unable to make up for the shoddy pitching by way of their plate production.

With the 10-4 loss, the Cubs dropped to 89-64 and did not do themselves any favors in their tight divisional race. The White Sox improved to 61-92 with the win and pulled even with the Cubs in the season series at two victories apiece. This weekend's three-game affair marks the final edition of the Crosstown Classic in 2018. The North Siders will need to turn things around on the mound if they are to enact revenge on the South Siders in what marks the Cubs' final road series of the regular season.

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